Bio

Jody Hewgill’s work explores narratives that emerge from the convergence of representation and fabrication, where the natural and the artificial meet and redefine ecological relationships. Her detailed acrylic paintings employ pop-surrealism, infused with references to 18th century naturalist art, to reflect the ageless, and fragile, human relationship with the natural world. Jody is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, she lives and works in Toronto, Canada with her husband illustrator/ animator/designer Balvis Rubess. Their cabin in Northern Ontario becomes their summer studio, where Jody immerses herself with observing nature and infusing those discoveries into her paintings.  

Artist Statement

Novel Companions is a visual celebration of our enduring bond with dogs through fresh portrayals of canine characters, to show how literature can shape our appreciation of this reciprocal relationship.

These images explore the vital role dogs play in our lives, the many ways they provide solace, companionship, protect us, connect us with nature and teach us about patience and mutual respect.

My goal is to transcend mere pictorial representation of a dog, by infusing each character with soulful expression, to convey the dog’s spirit, and to highlight the nature of the human/canine relationship gleaned from each story. The detailed imagery invites the viewer to take a closer look, to challenge our perception of these canine archetypes, by reframing the familiar with fresh perspectives, where the dog is the subject and not an object.

The concept of this series was conceived through my interest in deciphering the nuanced and complex codes of connecting and communicating with another species. The dog’s place in society became amplified throughout the pandemic, where they played a vital role in our lives as companions providing solace during times of distress. I feel this is a fitting time to celebrate this revered reciprocal relationship.

https://www.jodyhewgillart.com/

When did you realize you wanted to pursue art professionally?

Honestly, from the time I was about 10 years old when a neighbor introduced me to the work of Arthur Rackham, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to pursue art, and the book gave me the impression that artists were paid to have their work published. My memory is that I had been drawing voraciously since the age of five, and seeing Arthur Rackham’s work introduced me to imaginative storytelling. This inspired me to spend hours in my bedroom drawing and conjuring my own stories to entertainment myself and as a form of escape from an unhappy home environment.  

Whether fellow artist or friend, who has continued to inspire your work.

I am energized by experiencing powerful work. The artists that I am drawn to has evolved considerably over the years, but I still tend to gravitate to representational, figurative, drawing-based work. I find inspiration from going to museums and galleries and discovering artists that I was previously unaware of or haven’t had the opportunity to see in person. Some memorable shows include Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Kiki Smith. Seeing Walton Ford’s show at the Brooklyn Museum in 2006 was indelible; the large-scale meticulous watercolors took my breath away. His use of animals in an allegorical context was unparalleled by anything I had seen before. The images were immensely powerful both conceptually and visually.

What do you enjoy exploring through your art?

I love the visceral quality of applying paint to a surface, playing with textures and patterns, layering color with glazes, then seeing the form emerge. I find it endlessly fascinating to observe nature, particularly birds and animals. I am interested in exploring narratives that emerge from the convergence of representation and fabrication, where the natural and the artificial meet and redefine ecological relationships. This fascination stems from learning how to communicate with another species (dogs in particular), observations in the surroundings of our Northern Ontario cottage, and from reading nature-based literature, and reflecting on earth’s changing environment.

Looking back, what advice do you wish you could give your younger self?

Be more fearless, take more risks, and enjoy the process of play and discovery. I still need to take more risks, but I like to think of myself as a life-long learner.

What is one thing you hope your audience walks away with after experiencing/viewing your work?

My greatest hope is that the work speaks to the viewer on an emotional level. I was very surprised to witness four people cry (on separate occasions) when I walked them through the concept development of the paintings for my solo exhibition “Novel Companions”. Others said the work was joyful. I love that people experienced a wide range of emotional responses. My intent for the body of work was to share my deep appreciation for our enduring bond with dogs through canine characters from literature, and to spark a conversation with other animal lovers.